Feeling a bit deflated

[Pippa49]

I have been speaking to the manager of the Runforall re the marathon and they she said that they estimated from the timings I had given them that it would take me 10hrs 20mins to finish the marathon. At one point on the course there is no path and no lighting so they would be concerned for my safety. As I have booked train tickets and accommodation they are transferring my entry to the 10 mile race on 20th October.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Pippa are you sure that’s right? I’m what I’d consider a slow runner and I wouldn’t take that length of time to run a marathon. I’m hoping to do my first HM distance in 3 hours (or just over) in a couple of weeks. I know a marathon is a whole lot longer, obviously, but I don’t think even I’d be able to make it stretch to 10 hours plus.

Are you being overly pessimistic with your timings? Surely if you run/walk 26 miles you could do it faster - couldn’t you?

Sorry if I’m off the mark here - but I really consider myself slow! 🐌🐌🐌

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Yes according to Runtastic it took 6hrs:18 to do 16miles and 6hrs:50 to do 18miles. Tbh I am sort of relieved. I will still be part of the event just doing 10 miles not 26.2. Too late to change my mind now as they will be changing my entry over to the 10 mile race.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

That must be a great relief for you then. 10 miles is still a fabulous distance and a lot of the pressure will be taken off as you know you can do it! Have a wonderful time, you’ll ace it! 👍👏🏃‍♀️👊

[Couchpotato2 Marathon]

Oh a 10 mile sounds great! (I know it’s not what you planned). Where is it, you could try and getnsome VRB to come as well and make it a party 🎈

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

It's on the same day as the Yorkshire Marathon in York

[Couchpotato2 Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Let me see if I can come up and do it too... I have a friend that lives there

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

Yes that would be good. What's VRB?

[Couchpotato2 Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Virtual running buddies... us!

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

Ah I get it

[Couchpotato2 Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

my friend is thinking of doing it. Need to see if I can get reasonable travel and I'm happy to do it with you. Never run that far but probably something nice to train towards!

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

The 10 mile race? Yes that would be nice to have someone to run /walk with. I am travelling down Saturday 19th October and going home Monday 21st. Have accommodation which I need to pay for on arrival.

[Couchpotato2 Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

let me see what I can do and check diary etc.

[Hidden]

10 miles is a nice distance. I’m sorry it isn’t the full distance, but you will be less stressed. Do you mind me asking your average running pace? 10 hours seems a long time.

Enjoy your event, and let us know how it goes 🙂

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Of course not. The past few months it has not been below 19min miles although the last four miles last week was 16:27?. It varies from run to run, according to the weather and terrain

[Hidden in reply to Pippa49]

Oh crikey how does that translate to km? I have no idea what it means in miles 😳

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

No idea as only work in miles but will work it out and come back to you

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Have googled it and 19min miles is 11.81 kilometers per mile

[Hidden in reply to Pippa49]

That’s not that slow. I run at that pace sometimes for runs in heart rate zones 1&2.

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

Yeah that's my pace some runs too!

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

Ach Pippa that's disappointing but I'm a big proponent of going for the path of least resistance - some might call it trusting in fate, but I'm more of a sciencey lass so that's my preferred approach. Running in the fading light doesn't sound like fun at all so I'm sure they're right, and 10 miles gives you the experience with many fewer blisters, so I don't see any downsides to be honest! Do you still plan to do a marathon at some other time? I hope so, you seem so focussed. Perhaps there is one that you would enjoy at a more appropriate time of year, November is not great for either pleasant weather or hours of daylight! (Though it's my birthday month so I can't be too harsh on it).

Edit. Oh wait, you said October. Why was I thinking about November? Well, October isn't great for them either! And it's not my birthday month so I feel no guilt about saying that.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Sqkr]

Thanks. Part of me thinks I should have took time to think about it. They have given me complimentary entry to next year but not sure if I want to do a marathon now. I prefer training over the summer in daylight rather than winte so A September marathon would be better

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Sqkr]

I know I have made the right decision but wish I had asked if I could think about it first. I probably would have come to the same conclusion. Just feel like I have failed. I have invested a lot of time and effort to achieve 16 then 18 miles which wasn't easy and feel my confidence has taken a hit not to mention my pride. Feel those who thought I would probably take a long time about the same as what the organisers said have been proved correct.

[Sqkr Half Marathon in reply to Pippa49]

In what way is that a failure! I know it's easy for me to say and that doing so won't change the frustration of the fact the decision seems to be a bit out of your control, but you're going to be in brilliant form for a ten miler having put that work in. And when you find the marathon that suits you better you'll be ahead of the game psychologically, as you've got such huge distances under your belt already. So much of running is mental, and you've already ticked that bit off the list - 'can I do it?' is such a big stumbling block for most. But you already have! 18 miles is a heck of an achievement, we all know you can nudge it to 26 when the time comes.

Also, fingers to the naysayers. I don't know who they are and I don't care and neither should you. They're not running your race, they need to keep out of your business. This change doesn't prove them right about anything, it simply proves them to be annoying and selfish. Pay them no mind. Well, until you sail over all your finish lines, then you can do a triumphant smile...and then pay them no mind after that fleeting moment because running is your achievement and not theirs.

I didn't put swears in that last paragraph because it's not the health unlocked way, but I reckon you know where they are. 👍

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Sqkr]

I feel it's a failure in that I have said I am doing a marathon, have already got up to 18miles and now I am not doing it (not my choice). It's about loss of face.

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to Pippa49]

Can you find another one that has no cut off? Just because you aren't doing this particular one doesn't mean you can't do one.

Or ring them back and ask them to change it back. Find out where the part of the course that has no light is. If it's not at the end it's unlikely that you will be running through it in the dark - besides, many of us train in the early morning or late at night. You can say you felt pressured to change it to the 10 miles (which is still a HUGE distance, but well within your reach as you've done 18 already) and you'd really like to change it back. That, of course, only if you want to do it and aren't happy with the 10 miles. If you are happy to do the 10 miles instead of a marathon, hang what everyone thinks and just explain as you have to us, and run your own race.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to backintime]

The part where there are no paths and lights is rural and they have to open up the roads and it wouldn't be safe, it's not at the beginning or at the end but based on my timings and the fact that it is October and it will be getting dark early there is a chance I will be running in the dark . I have only been training when it's been light as run alone. It's a safety issue. Besides I have told a few people about this so can't backtrack now. There are no marathons without cut offs besides not sure if I want to do a marathon now. 😞

[backintime 10 Miles in reply to Pippa49]

I hope you do, you are such an inspiration - you have run so far already. You are normally so determined (I have been lurking here a while lol)

I hope it's just disappointment talking.

Either way, you have done so well, whichever race you run, don't let them put a downer on your running just because of one race.

[Hidden in reply to Pippa49]

That’s not a failure. You’ve run huge distances. It wasn’t your decision to do 10 miles instead.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I t was and it wasn't. I had already paid for the train tickets so didn't feel like I had much choice as doubt l would get my money back for the train tickets if I said no I don't want to do the 10 mile race and they were advising against doing the marathon. Feeling a bit down and never felt less like running.

[Hidden in reply to Pippa49]

That will pass. You’re bound to feel demoralised right now

[C3PO Marathon]

I completely understand. I'm so impressed by your determination. It's really tough, mentally, to keep going for so many hours. I agree that 10 miles is a nice distance. I've only done it in the UK, but I've really enjoyed it.

[K8nno Half Marathon 10 Miles]

??? Average WALKING speed is 3.1mph, meaning you could walk it in 8 hours..... something is way off here???

[Pippa49 Half Marathon]

In what way is something off? Maybe my times for 16 and 18 miles are off, know Strava etc are not always accurate. Either way I am doing the Yorkshire 10 mile race. Too late to change my mind now as they will have transferred my entry over from the marathon.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Pippa, I think the 10 mile will be a great experience for you. I do understand. You've done so well getting up to 18 miles, if you really want to do the marathon distance you could either just do it for your own satisfaction as I do on a day/time to suit yourself or you could sign up for one of those virtual events where you do it when you want and still get a medal.

It's certainly going to ease the pressure for you. I do understand though, there are certainly those people it's going to be harder to tell; however as they say, discretion is the better part of valor. 👍🏻

Very nice of them to offer free entry next year, you never know, you might be up for it then. 😁

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks. Just feel that they couldn't possibly know what would happen on the day based on the times I gave now. It was the first time I had ever done those distances so I was bound to be slow. However I understand that they are thinking of my safety. At least I will get to experience the course in part and get some bling. I will have done the Cardiff Half on 6th October so I will be more than ready for 10 miles.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to Pippa49]

You're already more than ready! 👍🏻💪🏻😁

[Somersetsmithy]

As someone who has done a marathon or 3 , i feel that the training i did led to some great races before a marathon and rubbish races after. i always enjoy the training because of the benefits it gave to other races , so if i was in pippa49 shoes i would be thinking i can now smash a 10 mile.

just imagine you pick up an injury 2/3 weeks before the marathon what would feel like .

or you ran out of your skin got around about 9 hrs but for 3 months after could not run a mile.

tdoors close for another door to open , go through and do a great 10 miler

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Somersetsmithy]

Thank you Somersetsmithy. I just feel that all the time and effort especially effort in doing 16 then 18 miles is now wasted. They were not easy runs although nothing worthwhile is easy but I felt I had to achieved something I didn't think I could do. Also feel embarrassed as had told people that I was doing a marathon and now I'm just doing 10 miles. I know I shouldn't care what people think but I do and feel they will think I am not capable and getting ideas above my ability.

[Somersetsmithy]

No training is wasted , with out swearing , something happens , it was out of your control ,

you are in a great position to run a good 10 miler, keep training for a marathon , and look at 1 in the spring, look in to the future and imagine how elated you will be if you run a cracking race, this will only happen because you have done the work .

keep the good work up and go for your next run knowing that the next 6/8 week will produce a great race

[Sarararara]

Why not pick a date and run your own personal marathon? You wouldn’t get the crowds and the bling, but you would achieve your goal and get huge congrats from everyone here, plus a badge by your name.

[limberlou Half Marathon]

Why not do one of the Virtual Races like in RaceatYourPace or Medal Mad and do your marathon distance ?

Then do your 10 miler and enjoy it and plan for a marathon again next Spring/early Summer.

Running 18 miles anyway is brilliant and I for one would be well chuffed with myself for that 👏👏🏃‍♀️

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to limberlou]

I am well chuffed. If you read my recent post I have emailed the organisers to see if it is too late to change my mind. I have also emailed the Brighton marathon organisers to request withdrawal. Just got to wait until Monday for the outcome of both emails. If it is too late to change my mind then I will do the 10mile race in York and enjoy.